Methods of detecting collagen degradation in vivo

ABSTRACT

A method of determining collagen degradation in vivo, comprising quantitating the concentration of a peptide in a body fluid, the peptide being a C-terminal type II collagen telopeptide containing a hydroxylysyl pyridinoline cross-link or a type III collagen telopeptide containing a hydroxylysyl pyridinoline cross-link. The method includes immunometric assays, fluorometric assays, and electrochemical titrations for quantitation. The structures of specific peptides having cross-links and kits for quantitating these peptides in a body fluid are described.

This invention was made with government support under one or more of grants AM 26489, AR 37318, AM 30774, and AR 36794 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

This is a divisional of prior application Ser. No. 07/444,881, filed Dec. 1, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,103, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/118,234, filed on Nov. 6, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,666.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for detecting and monitoring collagen degradation in vivo. More specifically, it relates to methods for quantitating cross-linked telopeptides produced in vivo upon degradation of collagen types II and III.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Three known classes of collagens have been described to date. The Class I collagens, subdivided into types I, II, III, V, and XI, are known to form fibrils. These collagens are all synthesized as procollagen molecules, made up of N-terminal and C-terminal propeptides, which are attached to the core collagen molecule. After removal of the propeptides, which occurs naturally in vivo during collagen synthesis, the remaining core of the collagen molecule consists largely of a triple-helical domain having terminal telopeptide sequences which are nontriple-helical. These telopeptide sequences have an important function as sites of intermolecular cross-linking of collagen fibrils extracellularly.

The present invention relates to methods of detecting collagen degradation based on assaying for particular cross-linked telopeptides produced in vivo upon collagen degradation. In the past, assays have been developed for monitoring degradation of collagen in vivo by measuring various biochemical markers, some of which have been degradation products of collagen. For example, bone turnover associated with Paget's disease has been monitored by measuring small peptides containing hydroxyproline, which are excreted in the urine following degradation of bone collagen. Russell et al., Metab. Bone Dis. and Rel. Res. 4 and 5, 255-262 (1981); and Singer, F. R., et al., Metabolic Bone Disease, Vol. II (eds. Avioli, L. V. and Kane, S. M.), 489-575 (1978), Academic Press, New York.

Other researchers have measured the cross-linking compound pyridinoline in urine as an index of collagen degradation in joint disease. See, for background and for example, Wu and Eyre, Biochemistry, 23:1850 (1984); Black et al., Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 48:641-644 (1989); Robins et al.; Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 45:969-973 (1986); and Seibel et al., The Journal of Rheumatology, 16:964 (1989). In contrast to the present invention, some prior researchers have hydrolyzed peptides from body fluids and then looked for the presence of individual hydroxypyridinium residues. None of these researchers has reported measuring a telopeptide containing a cross-link that is naturally produced in vivo upon collagen degradation, as in the present invention.

U.K. Patent application GB 2,205,643 reports that the degradation of type III collagen in the body is quantitatively determined by measuring the concentration of an N-terminal telopeptide from type III collagen in a body fluid. In this reference, it is reported that cross-linked telopeptide regions are not desirable. In fact, this reference reports that it is necessary to use a non-cross-linked source of collagen to obtain the telopeptide. The peptides of the present invention are all cross-linked. Collagen cross-links are discussed in greater detail below, under the heading "Collagen Cross-Linking."

There are a number of reports indicating that collagen degradation can be measured by quantitating certain procollagen peptides. The present invention involves telopeptides rather than propeptides, the two being distinguished by their location in the collagen molecule and the timing of their cleavage in vivo. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,504,587; 4,312,853; Pierard et al., Analytical Biochemistry 141:127-136 (1984); Niemela, Clin. Chem., 31/8:1301-1304 (1985); and Rohde et al., European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 9:451-459 (1979).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,768 relates to a method of determining changes occurring in articular cartilage involving quantifying proteoglycan monomer or antigenic fragments thereof in a synovial fluid sample. This patent does not relate to detecting cross-linked telopeptides derived from degraded collagen.

Dodge, J. Clin. Invest., 83:647-661 (1981) discloses methods for analyzing type II collagen degradation utilizing a polyclonal antiserum that specifically reacts with unwound alpha-chains and cyanagen bromide-derived peptides of human and bovine type II collagens. The peptides involved are not cross-linked telopeptides as in the present invention.

Amino acid sequences of human type III collagen, human proα1(II) collagen, and the entire preproα1(III)) chain of human type III collagen and corresponding cDNA clones have been investigated and determined by several groups of researchers. See Loidl et al., Nucleic Acids Research 12:9383-9394 (1984); Sangiorgi et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 13:2207-2225 (1985); Baldwin et al., Biochem. J., 262:521-528 (1989); and Ala-Kokko et al., Biochem. J., 260:509-516 (1989). None of these references specifies the structures of particular telopeptide degradation products that could be measured to determine the amount of degraded fibrillar collagen in vivo.

In spite of the above-described background information, there remains a need for effective and simple assays for determining collagen degradation in vivo. Such assays could be used to detect and monitor disease states in humans, such as osteoarthritis (type II collagen degradation), and various inflammatory disorders, such as vasculitis syndrome (type III collagen degradation).

Assays for type I collagen degradation, described in the parent application, U.S. Ser. No. 118,234, can be utilized to detect and assess bone resorption in vivo. Detection of bone resorption may be a factor of interest in monitoring and detecting diseases such as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in man. Primary osteoporosis, with increased susceptibility to fractions, results from a progressive net loss of skeletal bone mass. It is estimated to affect 15-20 million individuals in the United States. Its basis is an age-dependent imbalance in bone remodeling, i.e., in the rates of synthesis and degradation of bone tissue.

About 1.2 million osteoporosis-related fractures occur in the elderly each year including about 538,000 compression fractures of the spine, about 227,000 hip fractures and a substantial number of early fractured peripheral bones. Twelve to 20% of the hip fractures are fatal because they cause severe trauma and bleeding, and half of the surviving patients require nursing home care. Total costs from osteoporosis-related injuries now amount to at least $7 billion annually (Barnes, O. M., Science, 236:914 (1987)).

Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal women who, on average, lose 15% of their bone mass in the 10 years after menopause. This disease also occurs in men as they get older and in young amenorrheic women athletes. Despite the major, and growing, social and economic consequences of osteoporosis, no method is available for measuring bone resorption rates in patients or normal subjects. A major difficulty in monitoring the disease is the lack of a specific assay for measuring bone resorption rates.

Methods for assessing bone mass often rely on measuring whole-body calcium by neutron activation analysis or mineral mass in a given bone by photon absorption techniques. These measurements can give only long-term impressions of whether bone mass is decreasing. Measuring calcium balances by comparing intake with output is tedious, unreliable and can only indirectly appraise whether bone mineral is being lost over the long term. Other methods currently available for assessing decreased bone mass and altered bone metabolism include quantitative scanning radiometry at selected bone locations (wrist, calcaneus, etc.) and histomorphometry of iliac crest biopsies. The former provides a etude measure of the bone mineral content at a specific site in a single bone. Histomorphometry gives a semi-quantitative assessment of the balance between newly deposited bone seams and resorbing surfaces.

A urinary assay for the whole-body output of degraded bone in 24 hours would be much more useful. Mineral studies (e.g., calcium balance) cannot do this reliably or easily. Since bone resorption involves degradation of the mineral and the organic matrix, a specific biochemical marker for newly degraded bone products in body fluids would be the ideal index. Several potential organic indices have been tested. For example, hydroxyproline, an amino acid largely restricted to collagen, and the principal structural protein in bone and all other connective tissues, is excreted in urine. Its excretion rate is known to be increased in certain conditions, notably Paget's disease metabolic bone disorder in which bone turnover is greatly increased, as pointed out above. For this reason, urinary hydroxyproline has been used extensively as an amino acid marker for collagen degradation. Singer, F. R., et al. (1978), cited hereinabove.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,132 discloses a process for determination of hydroxyproline in body fluids such as serum, urine, lumbar fluid and other intercellular fluids in order to monitor deviations in collagen metabolism. In particular, this inventor notes that in pathologic conditions such as Paget's disease, Marfan's syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, neoplastic growth in collagen tissues and in various forms of dwarfism, increased collagen anabolism or catabolism as measured by hydroxyproline content in biological fluids can be determined. This inventor measures hydroxyproline by oxidizing it to a pyrrole compound with hydrogen peroxide and N-chloro-p-toluenesulphonamide followed by colorimetric determination in p-dimethyl-amino-benzaldehyde.

In the ease of Paget's disease, the increased urinary hydroxyproline probably comes largely from bone degradation; hydroxyproline, however, generally cannot be used as a specific index. Much of the hydroxyproline in urine may come from new collagen synthesis (considerable amounts of the newly made protein are degraded and excreted without ever becoming incorporated into tissue fabric), and from turnover of certain blood proteins as well as other proteins that contain hydroxyproline. Furthermore, about 80% of the free hydroxyproline derived from protein degradation is metabolized in the liver and never appears in the urine. Kiviriko, K. I. Int. Rev. Connect. Tissue Res. 5:93 (1970), and Weiss, P. H. and Klein, L., J. Clin. Invest. 48:1 (1969).

Hydroxylysine and its glycoside derivatives, both peculiar to collagenous proteins, have been considered to be more accurate than hydroxyproline as markers of collagen degradation. However, for the same reasons described above for hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine and its glycosides are probably equally non-specific markers of bone resorption. Krane, S. M. and Simon, L. S. Develop. Biochem., 22:185 (1981).

In addition to amino acids unique to collagen, various non-collagenous proteins of bone matrix such as osteocalcin, or their breakdown products, have formed the basis of immunoassays aimed at measuring bone metabolism. Price, P. A. et al. J. Clin. Invest., 66:878 (1980), and Gundberg, C. M. et al., Meth. Enzymol., 107:516 (1984). However, it is now clear that bone-derived non-collagenous proteins, though potentially a useful index of bone metabolic activity are unlikely, on their own, to provide quantitative measures of bone resorption. The concentration in serum of osteocalcin, for example, fluctuates quite widely both normally and in metabolic bone disease. Its concentration is elevated in states of high skeletal turnover but it is unclear whether this results from increased synthesis or degradation of bone. Krane, S. M., et al., Develop. Biochem., 22:185 (1981), Price, P. A. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 66:878 (1980); and Gundberg, C. M. et al., Meth. Enzymol., 107:516 (1984).

Collagen Cross-Linking

The polymers of most genetic types of vertebrate collagen require the formation of aldehyde-mediated cross-links for normal function. Collagen aldehydes are derived from a few specific lysine or hydroxylysine side-chains by the action of lysyl oxidase. Various di-, tri- and tetrafunctional cross-linking amino acids are formed by the spontaneous intra- and intermolecular reactions of these aldehydes within the newly formed collagen polymers; the type of cross-linking residue varies specifically with tissue type (see Eyre, D. R. et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem., 53:717-748 (1984)).

Two basic pathways of cross-linking can be differentiated for the banded (67 nm repeat) fibrillar collagens, one based on lysine aldehydes, the other on hydroxylysine aldehydes. The lysine aldehyde pathway dominates in adult skin, cornea, sclera, and rat tail tendon and also frequently occurs in other soft connective tissues. The hydroxylysine aldehyde pathway dominates in bone, cartilage, ligament, most tendons and most internal connective tissues of the body, Eyre, D. R. et al. (1974) vida supra. The operating pathway is governed by whether lysine residues are hydroxylated in the telopeptide sites where aldehyde residues will later be formed by lysyl oxidase (Barnes, M. J. et al., Biochem. J., 139:461 (1974)).

The chemical structure(s) of the mature cross-linking amino acids on the lysine aldehyde pathway are unknown, but hydroxypyridinium residues have been identified as mature products on the hydroxylysine aldehyde route. On both pathways and in most tissues the intermediate, borohydride-reducible cross-linking residues disappear as the newly formed collagen matures, suggesting that they are relatively short-lived intermediates (Bailey, A. J. et al., FEBS Lett., 16:86 (1971)). Exceptions are bone and dentin, where the reducible residues persist appreciable concentration throughout life, in part apparently because the rapid mineralization of the newly made collagen fibrils inhibits further spontaneous cross-linking interactions (Eyre, D. R., In: The Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Connective Tissues, (Veis, A. ed.) pp. 51-55 (1981), Elsevier, New York, and Walters, C. et al., Calc. Tiss. Intl., 35:401-405 (1983)).

Two chemical forms of 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link have been identified (Formula I and II). Both compounds are naturally fluorescent, with the same characteristic excitation and emission spectra (Fujimoto, D. et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 76:1124 (1977), and Eyre, D. R., Develop. Biochem., 22:50 1981)). These amino acids can be resolved and assayed directly in tissue hydrolysates with good sensitivity using reverse phase HPLC and fluorescence detection. Eyre, D. R. et al., Analyte. Biochem., 137:380-388 (1984). It should be noted that the present invention involves quantitating particular peptides rather than amino acids. ##STR1##

In growing animals, it has been reported that these mature cross-links may be concentrated more in an unmineralized fraction of bone collagen than in the mineralized collagen (Banes, A. J., et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1975 (1983). However, other studies on young bovine or adult human bone do not support this concept, Eyre, D. R., In: The Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissues (Butler, W. T. ed.) p. 105 (1985), Ebsco Media Inc., Birmingham, Ala. The presence of collagen hydroxypyridinium cross-links in human urine was first reported by Gunja-Smith and Boucek (Gunja-Smith, Z. and Boucek, R. J., Biochem J., 197:759-762 (1981)) using lengthy isolation procedures for peptides and conventional amino acid analysis. At that time, they were aware only of the HP form of the cross-link. Robins (Robins, S. P., Biochem J., 207:617-620 (1982) has reported an enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure HP in urine, having raised polyclonal antibodies to the free amino acid conjugated to bovine serum albumin. This assay is intended to provide an index for monitoring increased joint destruction that occurs with arthritic diseases and is based, according to Robins, on the finding that pyridinoline is much more prevalent in cartilage than in bone collagen.

In more recent work involving enzyme-linked immunoassay, Robins reports that lysyl pyridinoline is unreactive toward antiserum to pyridinoline covalently linked to bovine serum albumin (Robins et al., Ann. Rheum. Diseases, 45:969-973 (1986)). Robins' urinary index for cartilage destruction is based on the discovery that hydroxylysyl pyridinoline, derived primarily from cartilage, is found in urine at concentrations proportional to the rate of joint cartilage resorption (i.e., degradation). In principle, this index could be used to measure whole body cartilage loss; however, no information on bone resorption would be available.

A need therefore exists for a method that allows the measurement of whole-body bone resorption rates in humans. The most useful such method would be one that could be applied to body fluids, especially urine. The method should be sensitive, i.e., quantifiable down to 1 picomole and rapidly measure 24-hour bone resorption rates so that the progress of various therapies (e.g., estrogen) can be assessed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the discovery of the presence of particular cross-linked telopeptides in body fluids of patients and normal human subjects. These telopeptides are produced in vivo during collagen degradation and remodeling. The term "telopeptides" is used in a broad sense herein to mean cross-linked peptides having sequences that are associated with the telopeptide region of, e.g., type II and type III collagens and which may have cross-linked to them a residue or peptide associated with the collagen triple-helical domain. Generally, the telopeptides disclosed herein will have fewer amino acid residues than the entire telopeptide domains of type II and type III collagens. Typically, the telopeptides of the present invention will comprise two peptides linked by a pyridinium cross-link and further linked by a pyridinium cross-link to a residue or peptide of the collagen triple-helical domain. Having disclosed the structures of these telopeptides herein, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that they may also be produced other than in vivo, e.g., synthetically. These peptides will generally be provided in purified form, e.g., substantially free of impurities, particularly other peptides.

The present invention also relates to methods for determining in vivo degradation of type II and type III collagens. The methods involve quantitating in a body fluid the concentration of particular telopeptides that have a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link and that are derived from collagen degradation. The methods disclosed in the present invention are analogous to those previously disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 118,234, filed Nov. 6, 1987, for determining the absolute rate of bone resorption in vivo. Those methods involved quantitating in a body fluid the concentration of telopeptides having a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link derived from bone collagen resorption. In a representative assay, the patient's body fluid is contacted with an immunological binding partner specific to a telopeptide having a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link derived from type II or type III collagen. The body fluid may be used as is or purified prior to the contacting step. This purification step may be accomplished using a number of standard procedures, including cartridge adsorption and elution, molecular sieve chromatography, dialysis, ion exchange, alumina chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and combinations thereof.

Other representative embodiments of quantitating the concentration of peptide fragments having a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link in a body fluid include electrochemical titration, natural fluorescence spectroscopy, and ultraviolet absorbance. Electrochemical titration may be conducted directly upon a body fluid without further purification. However, when this is not possible due to excessive quantities of contaminating substances, the body fluid is first purified prior to the electrochemical titration step. Suitable methods for purification prior to electrochemical detection include dialysis, ion exchange chromatography, alumina chromatography, molecular sieve chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and ion exchange absorption and elution.

Fluorometric measurement of a body fluid containing a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link is an alternative way of quantitating collagen degradation (and, hence, bone resorption, if type I peptides are quantitated). The fluorometric assay can conducted directly on a body fluid without further purification. However, for certain body fluids, particularly urine, it is preferred that purification of the body fluid be conducted prior to the fluorometric-assay. This purification step consists of dialyzing an aliquot of a body fluid such as urine against an aqueous solution thereby producing partially purified peptide fragments retained within the nondiffusate (retentate). The nondiffusate is then lyophilized, dissolved in an ion pairing solution and adsorbed onto an affinity chromatography column. The chromatography column is washed with a volume of ion pairing solution and, thereafter, the peptide fragments are eluted from the column with an eluting solution. These purified peptide fragments may then be hydrolyzed and the hydrolysate resolved chromatographically. Chromatographic resolution may be conducted by either high-performance liquid chromatography or microbore high performance liquid chromatography.

The invention includes peptides having structures identical to peptides derived from collagen degradation, substantially free from other human peptides, which may be obtained from a body fluid. The peptides contain at least one 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link, in particular, a lysyl pyridinoline cross-link or a hydroxylysyl pyridinoline cross-link, and are derived from the telopeptide region of type II or type III collagen linked to one or more residues from a triple-helical domain, typically by the action of endogenous proteases and/or peptidases.

The structures of the type II and type III telopeptides are disclosed below. Information on the type I telopeptides, originally presented in U.S. Ser. No. 118,234, is also included.

Structure of Cross-Linked Telopeptides Derived from Type I Collagen

A specific telopeptide having a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link derived from the N-terminal (amino-terminal) telopeptide domain of bone type I collagen has the following amino acid sequence: ##STR2## where ##STR3## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline or lysyl pyridinoline, and Gln is glutamine or pyrrolidine carboxylic acid.

The invention also encompasses a peptide containing at least one 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link derived from the C-terminal (carboxy-terminal) telopeptide domain of bone type I collagen. These C-terminal telopeptide sequences are cross-linked with either lysyl pyridinoline or hydroxylysyl pyridinoline. An example of such a peptide sequence is represented by the formula: ##STR4## where ##STR5## is hydroxylysyl or lysyl pyridinoline.

Since the filing of U.S. Ser. No. 118,234, the inventor has discovered evidence of two additional type I collagen telopeptides in body fluids, having the following structures: ##STR6##

These telopeptides may also be quantitated in body fluids in accordance with the present invention.

Structure of a Cross-Linked Telopeptide Derived from Type II Collagen

A specific telopeptide having a hydroxylysyl pyridinoline cross-link derived from the C-terminal telopeptide domain of type II collagen has the following amino acid sequence (referred to hereinbelow as the core peptide structure): ##STR7## wherein the cross-linking residue depicted as Hyl-Hyl-Hyl is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline (HP), a natural 3-hydroxypyridinium residue present in mature collagen fibrils of various tissues.

Structure of Cross-Linked Telopeptides Derived from Type III Collagen

By analogy to the above disclosure, cross-linked peptides that are derived from proteolysis of human type III collagen may be present in body fluids. These peptides have a core structure embodied in the following parent structures: ##STR8## where ##STR9## is hydroxylysyl or lysyl pyridinoline, and Gln is glutamine or pyrrolidine carboxylic acid.

A likely cross-linked peptide derived from type III collagen in body fluids has the core structure: ##STR10## that is derived from two α1(III)N-telopeptide domains linked to an hydroxylysyl pyridinoline residue (Hyl-Hyl-Hyl).

A second possible fragment of the C-telopeptide cross-linking domain, based on the collagen types I and II peptides observed in urine, has the core structure: ##STR11##

Smaller and larger versions (differing by one to three amino acids on each component chain) of these two peptides corresponding to the parent sequences shown above (FORMULAE VIII and IX) may also be present and measurable in body fluids. Analogous smaller and larger versions of each of the peptides disclosed herein form part of the present invention as well.

The invention includes fused cell hybrids (hybridomas) that produce monoclonal antibodies specific for the above-described collagen peptides having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links.

The invention further includes monoclonal antibodies produced by the fused cell hybrids, and those antibodies (as well as binding fragments thereof, e.g. F_(ab)) coupled to a detectable marker. Examples of detectable markers include enzymes, chromophores, fluorophores, coenzymes, enzyme inhibitors, chemiluminescent materials, paramagnetic metals, spin labels and radioisotopes.

The invention also includes test kits useful for quantitating the amount of peptides having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links derived from collagen degradation in a body fluid. The kits may comprise a monoclonal antibody specific for a peptide derived from degraded collagen and containing at least one 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link. The monoclonal antibodies of the test kits may be coupled to detectable markers such as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a depiction of type II collagen and a proposal for the source of telopeptides. It is not established whether the two telopeptides shown come from one collagen molecule as depicted in FIG. 1 or from two collagen molecules.

FIG. 2 shows relative fluorescence (297 nm excitation; 390 nm emission) versus fraction number (4 ml), obtained during molecular sieve chromatographic purification of cross-linked telopeptides. Cross-linked type II collagen telopeptides are contained in the fractions designated II.

FIG. 3A shows relative fluorescence (330 nm excitation, 390 nm emission) versus elution time of fractions during ion exchange HPLC (DEAE-5PW). Cross-linked type II collagen telopeptides are contained in the fraction designated IV.

FIG. 3B shows absorbance (220 nm) versus elution time in minutes for the same chromatogram.

FIG. 4A shows relative fluorescence (297 nm excitation, 390 nm emission) versus elution time of fractions during reverse phase HPLC. Cross-linked type II collagen telopeptides are eluted as indicated. The fractions indicated by the bar (-) show evidence by sequence and composition analysis of the peptides indicated that retain or have lost the gly (G) and pro (P) residues.

FIG. 4B shows absorbance (220 nm) as a function of elution time during reverse phase HPLC.

FIG. 5 compares the concentration of HP and LP in both cortical and cancellous human bone with age.

FIG. 6 depicts the cross-link molar ratios of HP to LP as a function of age.

FIG. 7A shows relative fluorescence (297 nm excitation,>370 nm emission) as a function of elution volume during reverse phase HPLC separation of cross-linked type I collagen N-telopeptides.

FIG. 713 shows relative fluorescence (297 nm excitation,>370 nm emission) versus elution volume during reverse phase HPLC separation of cross-linked type I collagen C-telopeptides.

FIG. 8A shows relative fluorescence (297 nm excitation,>380 nm emission) as a function of elution time for the cross-linked type I collagen telopeptides.

FIG. 8B shows relative fluorescence (297 nm excitation,>380 nm emission) as a function of elution time for the cross-linked type I collagen telopeptides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Type II Collagen Telopeptides

The core peptide structure of the type II collagen peptides may be found in body fluids as a component of larger peptides that bear additional amino acids or amino acid sequences on one or more ends of the three peptide sequences joined by the HP residue. FIG. 1 shows how type II collagen telopeptides, which are linked to a triple-helical sequence, may be produced in vivo from a human source using the proteolytic enzymes pepsin and trypsin. Smaller fragments that have lost amino acids from the core peptide structure, particularly from the helical sequence, may also occur in body fluids. Generally, additions or deletions of amino acids from the core peptide structure will involve from 1 to about 3 amino acids. Additional amino acids will generally be determined by the type II collagen telopeptide sequence that occurs naturally in vivo. As examples, peptides having the following structure: ##STR12## can be isolated chromatographically from urine, and another of structure: ##STR13## may also be isolated. In addition, glycosylated variants of the core structure and its larger and smaller variants may occur in which a galactose residue or a glucosyl galactose residue are attached to the side chain hydroxyl group of the HP cross-linking residue. Each peak in the graph shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may correspond to a cross-linked fragment of particular structure that may be quantitated for purposes of the present invention.

These structures are consistent with their site of origin in human type II collagen fibrils at a molecular cross-linking site formed between two α1(II) C-telopeptides and residue 87 of a triple-helical domain, the known sequences about which are: ##STR14##

The isolated peptide fragments represent the products of proteolytic degradation of type II collagen fibrils within the body. The core structure containing the HP residue is relatively resistant to further proteolysis and provides a quantitative measure of the amount of type II collagen degraded.

Collagen type II is present in hyaline cartilage of joints in the adult skeleton. Quantitation of the collagen type II telopeptides in a body fluid, for example by way of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope in the peptide structure, would provide a quantitative measure of whole-body cartilage destruction or remodeling. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention involves an assay for cartilage tissue degradation in humans based on quantifying the urinary excretion rate of at least one member of this family of telopeptides. Such an assay could be used, for example, to:

(1) screen adult human subjects for those individuals having abnormally high rates of cartilage destruction as an early diagnostic indicator of osteoarthritis;

(2) monitor the effects of potential antiarthritic drugs on cartilage metabolism in osteoarthritic and rheumatoid arthritic patients; or

(3) monitor the progress of degenerative joint disease in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and their responses to various therapeutic interventions.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the articulating cartilages of joints. In its early stages it is largely non-inflammatory (i.e. distinct from rheumatoid arthritis). It is not a single disease but represents the later stages of joint failure that may result from various factors (e.g. genetic predisposition, mechanical overusage, joint malformation or a prior injury, etc.). Destruction of joint articular cartilage is the central progressive feature of osteoarthritis. The incidence of osteoarthritis, based on radiographic surveys, ranges from 4% in the 18-24 year age group to 85% in the 75-79 year age group. At present the disease can only be diagnosed by pain and radiographic or other imaging signs of advanced cartilage erosion.

The assays disclosed above may be used to detect early evidence of accelerated cartilage degradation in mildly symptomatic patients, to monitor disease progress in more advanced patients, and as a means of monitoring the effects of drugs or other therapies.

In normal young adults (with mature skeletons) there is probably very little degradation of cartilage collagen. A test that could measure fragments cartilage collagen in the urine (and in the blood and joint fluid) would be very useful for judging the "health" of cartilage in the whole body and in individual joints. The type II collagen-specific peptide assays described above will accomplish this. In the long term, such an assay could become a routine diagnostic screen for spotting those individuals whose joints are wearing away. They could be targeted early on for preventative therapy, for example, by the next generation of so-called chondroprotective drugs now being evaluated by the major pharmaceutical companies who are all actively seeking better agents to treat osteoarthritis.

Other diseases in which joint cartilage is destroyed include: rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, the low back pain syndrome, and other infectious forms of arthritis. The type II collagen-specific assays described herein could be used to diagnose and monitor these diseases and evaluate their response to therapy, as disclosed above in connection with osteoarthritis.

Type III Collagen Telopeptides

As pointed out above, human type III collagen telopeptides that may be present in body fluids are expected to have a core structure embodied in the following parent structures: ##STR15## wherein ##STR16## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.

By analogy to the type II peptides, the type III collagen peptides may occur in glycosylated forms of the core structure. For example, galactose residues or glucosylgalactose residues may be attached to the core structure, e.g. by way of hydroxyl groups.

The cross-linking residue of the type III collagen peptides is depicted as a 3-hydroxypyridinium residue, hydroxylysyl pyridinoline. The type II telopeptide structures have been found to primarily have hydroxylysyl pyridinoline cross-linking residues. However, whereas the type II collagen peptides are derived from the C-terminal telopeptide region of type II collagen, the type III collagen peptides may be derived from either the N-terminal or the C-terminal of type collagen, as long as at least one cross-linking residue is present.

Type III collagen is present in many connective tissues in association with type I collagen. It is especially concentrated in vascular walls, in the skin and in, for example, the synovial membranes of joints where its accelerated turnover might be observed in inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

A specific assay for type III collagen degradation by quantitating cross-linked type III collagen peptides as disclosed above, can be used for detecting, diagnosing, and monitoring various inflammatory disorders, possibly with particular application to the vasculitis syndromes. In conjunction with assays for measuring bone type I and cartilage type II collagen degradation rates, such an assay could be used as a differential diagnostic tool for patients with various degenerative and inflammatory disorders that result in connective tissue destruction or pathological processes.

Isolation of Type II and Type III Collagen Telopeptides

General Procedures

Urine is collected form a normal adolescent during a rapid phase of skeletal growth. Using a sequence of chromatographic steps that include but are not limited to, adsorption on selective cartridges of a hydrophobic interaction support and an ion-exchange support and molecular sieve, ion-exchange and reverse-phase HPLC column chromatography steps, individual peptides are isolated. The cross-linked peptides containing HP (and LP) residues are detected during column chromatography by their natural fluorescence (Ex max 297 nm<pH 4, Ex max 330 nm,>pH 6; Em max 390 nm). An exemplary isolation procedure is provided in the Example below.

Specific Example:

Fresh urine (at 4° C.) diluted 5 times with water and adjusted to 2% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid, passed through a C-18 hydrophobic binding cartridge (Waters C-18 Sep-pak prewetted with 80% (v/v) acetonitrile then washed with water). Retained peptides were washed with water then eluted with 3 ml of 20% (v/v) acetonitrile, and this eluent was adjusted to 0.05 M NH₄ HCO₃, 10% (v/v) acetonitrile by addition of an equal volume of 0.1 M NH₄ HCO₃. This solution was passed through a QMA-Sep-pak (Waters), which was washed with 10 ml of 0.1M NaCl, 20% (v/v) acetonitrile followed by 10 ml of water and the peptides were then eluted with 3 ml of 1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid and dried by Speed-Vac (Savant).

Peptides were fractionated in three chromatographic steps. The first step was molecular sieve chromatography on a column of Bio-Gel P-10 (Bio Rad Labs, 2.5 cm×90 cm) eluted by 10% (v/v) acetic acid, monitoring the effluent for HP fluorescence as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the Y-axis is the relative fluorescence emission at 390 nm (297 nm excitation), and the X-axis is the fraction number. The fraction size was 4 ml. The fractions indicated as II are enriched in the cross-linked collagen type II telopeptides. The cross-linked collagen type I telopeptides are contained in the fractions indicated as III and IV. Fractions spanning pool II (enriched in the type II collagen cross-linked peptides) were combined, freeze-dried and fractionated by ion-exchange column chromatography on a DEAE-HPLC column (TSK-DEAE-5PW, 7.5 mm×7.5 mm, Bio-Rad Labs), equilibrated with 0.02 M Tris/HCl, 10% (v/v) acetonitrile, pH 7.5 and eluted with a gradient of 0-0.5M NaCl in the same buffer as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A plots relative fluorescence emission at 390 nm (330 nm excitation) versus elution time. The cross-linked collagen type II telopeptides found primarily in the segment indicated as IV. FIG. 3B plots absorbance at 220 nm as a function of elution time in minutes. Pool IV contains the type II collagen cross-linked peptides. Individual peptides were then resolved from pool IV by reverse phase HPLC on a C-18 column (Aquapore RP-300, 25cm×4.6ram, Brownlee Labs), eluting with a gradient of 0-30% (v/v) acetonitrile in 0.1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid. FIG. 4A shows a plot of relative fluorescence intensity at 390 nm (297 nm excitation) as a function of elution time. The peaks associated with particular peptides are indicated in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4B shows the relative absorbance at 220 nm as a function of time.

Cross-linked peptide fragments of type III collagen containing HP cross-linking residues may be isolated by a similar combination of steps from the urine of normal growing subjects or, for example, from the urine of patients with inflammatory disorders of the vasculature.

Type I Collagen Telopeptides

This aspect of the invention is based on the discovery that both lysyl pyridinoline (LP) and hydroxylysyl pyridinoline (HP) peptide fragments (i.e., telopeptides, as used herein) derived from reabsorbed bone collagen are excreted in the urine without being metabolized. The invention is also based on the discovery that no other connective tissues contain significant levels of LP and that the ratio of HP to LP in mature bone collagen remains relatively constant over a person's lifetime.

FIG. 5 compares the concentration of HP and LP in both cortical and cancellous human bone with age. It is observed that the concentration of HP plus LP cross-links in bone collagen reaches a maximum by age 10 to 15 years and remains reasonably constant throughout adult life. Furthermore, the ratio of HP to LP, shown in FIG. 6, shows little change throughout life, remaining constant at about 3.5 to 1. These baseline data demonstrate that the 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links in bone collagen remains relatively constant and therefore that body fluids derived from bone collagen degradation will contain 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-linked peptide fragments at concentrations proportional to the absolute rate of bone resorption.

Since LP is the 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link unique to bone collagen, the method for determining the absolute rate of bone resorption, in its simplest form, is based on quantitating the concentration of peptide fragments containing 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links and preferably lysyl pyridinoline (LP) cross-links in a body fluid.

As used in this description and in the appended claims with respect to type I, II, or III telopeptides, by "quantitating" is meant measuring by any suitable means, including but not limited to spectrophotometric, gravimetric, volumetric, coulometric, immunometric, potentiometric, or amperometric means the concentration of peptide fragments containing 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links in an aliquot of a body fluid. Suitable body fluids include urine, serum, and synovial fluid. The preferred body fluid is urine.

Since the concentration of urinary peptides will decrease as the volume of urine increases, it is further preferred that when urine is the body fluid selected, the aliquot assayed be from a combined pool of urine collected over a fixed period of time, for example, 24 hours. In this way, the absolute rate of bone resorption or collagen degradation is calculated for a 24 hour period. Alternatively, urinary peptides may be measured as a ratio relative to a marker substance found in urine such as creatinine. In this way the urinary index of collagen degradation and bone resorption would remain independent of urine volume.

In one embodiment of the present invention, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies are produced which are specific to the peptide fragments containing lysyl pyridinoline cross-links found in a body fluid such as urine. Type I telopeptide fragments may be isolated from a body fluid of any patient, however, it is preferred that these peptides are isolated from patients with Paget's disease or from rapidly growing adolescents, due to their high concentration of type I peptide fragments. Type II and type III telopeptides may be isolated from a body fluid of any patient but may be more easily obtained from patients suffering from diseases involving type II or type III collagen degradation or from rapidly growing adolescents.

Isolation of Type I Collagen Telopeptides

Urine from patients with active Paget's disease is dialyzed in reduced porosity dialysis tubing (<3,500 tool. wt. cut off Spectropore) at 4° C. for 48h to remove bulk solutes. Under these conditions the peptides of interest are largely retained. The freeze-dried non-diffusate is then eluted (200 mg aliquots) from a column (90 cm×2.5 cm) of Bio-Gel P2 (200-400 mesh) in 10% acetic acid at room temperature. A region of effluent that combines the cross-linked peptides is defined by measuring the fluorescence of collected fractions at 297 nm excitation/395 nm emission, and this pool is freeze-dried. Further resolution of this material is obtained on a column of Bio-Gel P-4 (200-400 mesh, 90 cm×2.5 cm) eluted in 10% acetic acid.

Two contiguous fraction pools are defined by monitoring the fluorescence of the eluant above. The earlier fraction is enriched in peptide fragments having two amino acid sequences that derive from the C-terminal telopeptide domain of the αI(I) chain of bone type I collagen linked to a third sequence derived from the triple-helical body of bone type I collagen. These three peptide sequences are cross-linked with 3-hydroxypyridinium. The overlapping later fraction is enriched in peptide fragments having an amino acid sequence that is derived from the N-terminal telopeptide domain of bone type I collagen linked through a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links.

Individual peptides are then resolved from each of the two fractions obtained above by ion-exchange HPLC on a TSK DEAE-5-PW column (Bio Rad 7.5 cm×7.5 mm) eluting with a gradient of NaCl (0-0.2M) in 0.02M Tris-HCl pH 7.5 containing 10% (v/v) acetonitrile. The N-terminal telopeptide-based and C-terminal telopeptide-based cross-linked peptides elute in a series of 3-4 peaks; of fluorescence between 0.08M and 0.15M NaCl The C-terminal telopeptide-based cross-linked peptides elute first as a series of fluorescent peaks, and the, major and minor N-terminal telopeptide-based cross-linked peptides elute towards; the end of the gradient as characteristic peaks. Each of these is collected, freeze-dried and chromatographed on a C-18 reverse phase HPLC column (Vydac 218TP54, 25 cm×4.6 mm) eluted with a gradient (0-10%) of acetonitrile: n-propanol (3:1 v/v) in 0.01M trifluoroacetic acid. About 100-500 μg of individual peptide fragments containing 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links can be isolated by this procedure from a single 24h collection of Paget's urine.

Amino acid compositions of the major isolated peptides confirmed purity anti molecular sizes by the whole number stoichiometry of recovered amino acids. N-terminal sequence analysis by Edman degradation confirmed the basic core structures corresponding to the sequences of the known cross-linking sites in type I collagen and from the matching amino acid compositions. The N-terminal telopeptide sequence of the α2(I) chain was blocked from sequencing analysis due presumably to the known cyclization of the N-terminal glutamine to pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.

A typical elution profile of N-terminal telopeptides obtained by the above procedure is shown in FIG. 7A. The major peptide fragment obtained has an amino acid composition: (Asx)₂ (Glx)₂ (Gly)₅ Val-Tyr-Ser-Thr, where Asx is the amino acid Asp or Asn and Glx is the amino acid Gln or Glu. The sequence of this peptide is represented by Formula III below.

The C-terminal telopeptide-based cross-linked peptides resolved by reverse phase HPLC as described above are shown in FIG. 7B. As can be seen from this figure, these peptides are further resolved into a series of C-terminal telopeptides each containing the 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links. The major peptide, shown in FIG. 7B, was analyzed as described above and was found have the amino acid composition: (Asp)₅ (Glu)₄ (Gly)₁₀ (His)₂ (Arg)₂ (Hyp)₂ (Ala)₅. The sequence of this peptide is represented by formula IV below. It is believed that the other C-terminal telopeptide-based cross-linked peptides appearing as minor peaks in FIG. 7B represent additions and deletions of amino acids to structure shown in Formula IV. Any of the peptides contained within these minor peaks are suitable for use as immunogens as described below. ##STR17## where ##STR18## represents the HP or LP cross-links and Gln represents glutamine or pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.

Equivalents of the peptides represented by the above structures include those cases where there is some variation in the peptide structure. Examples of such variation include 1-3 amino acid additions to the N and C termini as well as 1-3 terminal amino acid deletions. Smaller peptide fragments of the molecule represented by Formula IV derived from bone resorption are especially evident in urine. These are found in the minor peaks of the C-terminal telopeptide fraction seen in FIG. 7B and can be identified by amino acid composition and sequence analysis.

EXAMPLES OF PROCEDURES FOR QUANTITATING PEPTIDES

A. Immunological Procedure For Quantitating Peptides

Immunological binding partners capable of specifically binding to peptide fragments derived from bone collagen obtained from a physiological fluid can be prepared by methods well known in the art. The preferred method for isolating these peptide fragments is described above. By immunological binding partners as used herein is meant antibodies and antibody fragments capable of binding to a telopeptide.

Both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specifically binding the peptides disclosed herein and their equivalents are prepared by methods known in the art. For example, Campbell, A. M. Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vol. 13 (1986). Elsevier, herein incorporated by reference. It is possible to produce antibodies to the above peptides or their equivalents as isolated. However, because the molecular weights of these peptide fragments are generally less than 5,000, it is preferred that the hapten be conjugated to a carrier molecule. Suitable carrier molecules include, but are not limited to, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, thyroglobulin, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Preferred carriers are thyroglobulin and KLH.

It is well known in the art that the orientation of the hapten, as it is bound to the carrier protein, is of critical importance to the specificity of the antiserum. Furthermore, not all hapten-protein conjugates are equally successful immunogens. The selection of a protocol for binding the particular hapten to the carrier protein therefore depends on the amino acid sequence of the urinary peptide fragments selected. For example, if the peptide represented by Formula III is selected, a preferred protocol involves coupling this hapten to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), or other suitable carrier, with glutaraldehyde. An alternative protocol is to couple the peptides to KLH with a carbodiimide. These protocols help to ensure that the preferred epitope, namely Tyr and a 3-hydroxy-pyridinium cross-link, are presented to the primed vertebrate antibody producing cells (e.g., B lymphocytes).

Other peptides, depending on the source, may require different binding protocols. Accordingly, a number of binding agents may be suitably employed. These include, but are not limited to, carbodiimides, glutaraldehyde, mixed anhydrides, as well as both homobifunctional and heterobifunctional reagents (see for example the Pierce 1986-87 catalog, Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill.). Preferred binding agents include carbodiimides and heterobifunctional reagents such as m-Maleimidobenzyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS).

Methods for binding the hapten to the carrier molecule are known in the art. See for example, Chard, T., Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vol. 6 (1987) Partz Elsevier, N.Y., herein incorporated by reference.

Either monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to the hapten-carrier molecule immunogen can be produced. However, it is preferred that monoclonal antibodies (MAb) be prepared. For this reason it is preferred that immunization be carried out in the mouse. Immunization protocols for the mouse usually include an adjuvant. Examples of suitable protocols are described by Chard, T. (1987) vida supra. Spleen cells from the immunized mouse are harvested and homogenized and thereafter fused with cancer cells in the presence of polyethylene glycol to produce a fused cell hybrid which produces monoclonal antibodies specific to peptide fragments derived from collagen. Examples of such peptides are represented by the formulas given above. Suitable cancer cells include myeloma, hepatoma, carcinoma, and sarcoma cells. Detailed descriptions of this procedure, including screening protocols, protocols for growing selected hybrid cells and harvesting monoclonal antibodies produced by the selected hybrid cells are provided in Galfre, G. and Milstein, C., Meth. Enzymol., 73:1 (1981). A preferred preliminary screening protocol involves the use of peptide fragments derived from bone collagen resorption and containing 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links in a solid phase radioimmunoassay.

The monoclonal antibodies or other immunological binding partners used in connection with the present are preferably specific for a particular type of collagen telopeptide. For example, assays for the type II or type III collagen degradation telopeptides should preferably be able to distinguish between the type I, type II, and type 1II peptides. However, :n some cases, such selectivity will not be necessary, for example, if it is known that a patient is not suffering degradation of one type of collagen but is suspected of suffering degradation from the assayed type of collagen. Because of the differences in amino acid sequences between the type I, type II, and type III families of telopeptides, cross-reactivity should not occur to a significant degree. Indeed, hybridomas can be selected for during the screening of splenocyte fusion clones that produce monoclonal antibodies specific for the cross-linked telopeptide of interest (and lack affinity for those of the other two collagen types). Based on the differences in sequence of the isolated peptide structures, such specificity is entirely feasible. Peptide fragments of the parent types I, II and III collagens, suitable for such hybridoma screening, can be prepared from human bone, cartilage and other tissues and used to screen clones from mice immunized appropriately with the individual cross-linked peptide antigens isolated from body fluid.

Immunological binding partners, especially monoclonal antibodies, produced by the above procedures, or equivalent procedures, are employed in various immunometric assays to quantitate the concentration of the peptides having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links described above. These immunometric assays comprise a monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment coupled to a detectable marker. Examples of suitable detectable markers include but are not limited to: enzymes, coenzymes, enzyme inhibitors, chromophores, fluorophores, chemiluminescent materials, paramagnetic metals, spin labels, and radionuclides. Examples of standard immunometric methods suitable for quantitating the telopeptides include, but are not limited to, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Ingvall, E., Meth. Enzymol., 70 (1981)), radio-immunoassay (RIA), and "sandwich" immunoradiometric assay (IRMA).

In its simplest form, these immunometric methods can be used to determine the absolute rate of bone resorption or collagen degradation by simply contacting a body fluid with the immunological binding partner specific to a collagen telopeptide having a 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-link.

It is preferred that the immunometric assays described above be conducted directly on untreated body fluids (e.g. urine, blood, serum, or synovial fluid). Occasionally, however, contaminating substances may interfere with the assay necessitating partial purification of the body fluid. Partial purification procedures include, but are not limited to, cartridge adsorption and elution, molecular sieve chromatography, dialysis, ion exchange, alumina chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and combinations thereof.

Test kits, suitable for use in accordance with the present invention, contain monoclonal antibodies prepared as described above that specifically bind to peptide fragments having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links derived from collagen degradation found in a body fluid. It is preferred that the monoclonal antibodies of this test kit be coupled to a detectable marker of the type described above. Test kits containing a panel of two or more immunological binding partners are also contemplated. Each immunological binding partner in such a test kit will preferably not cross-react substantially with another type of telopeptide. For example, an immunological binding partner that binds specifically with a type: II collagen telopeptide should preferably not cross-react with either a type I or type III collagen telopeptide. A small degree (e.g. 5-10%) of cross-reactivity may be tolerable.

B. Electrochemical Procedure For Assaying For Peptides

An alternative procedure for assaying for the above-described peptides consists of measuring a physical property of the peptides having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links. One such physical property relies upon electrochemical detection. This method consists of injecting an aliquot of a body fluid, such as urine, into an electrochemical detector poised at a redox potential suitable for detection of peptides containing the 3-hydroxypyridinium ring. The 3-hydroxypyridinium ring, being a phenol, is subject to reversible oxidation and therefore the electrochemical detector (e.g., Model 5100A Coulochem sold by Esa 45 Wiggins Ave., Bedford, Mass.) is a highly desirable instrument suitable for quantitating the concentration of the present peptides. Two basic forms of electrochemical detector are currently commercially available: amperometric (e.g., BioAnalytical Systems) and coulometric (ESA, Inc., Bedford, Mass. 01730). Both are suitable for use in accordance with the present invention, however, the latter system is inherently more sensitive and therefore preferred since complete oxidation or reduction of the analyzed molecule in the column effluent is achieved. In addition, screening or guard electrodes can be placed "upstream" from the analytical electrode to selectively oxidize or reduce interfering substances thereby greatly improving selectivity. Essentially, the voltage of the analytical electrode is tuned to the redox potential of the sample molecule, and one or more pretreatment cells are set to destroy interferents in the sample.

In a preferred assay method, a standard current/voltage curve is established for standard peptides containing lysyl pyridinoline or hydroxylysyl pyridinoline in order to determine the proper voltage to set for optimal sensitivity. This voltage is then modified depending upon the body fluid, to minimize interference from contaminants and optimize sensitivity. Electrochemical detectors, and the optimum conditions for their use are known to those skilled in the art. Complex mixtures of body fluids can often be directly analyzed with the electrochemical detector without interference. Accordingly, for most patients no pretreatment of the body fluid is necessary. In some cases however, interfering compounds may reduce the reliability of the measurements. In such cases, pretreatment of the body fluid (e.g., urine) may be necessary.

Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, a body fluid is first purified prior to electrochemically titrating the purified peptide fragments. The purification step may be conducted in a variety of ways including but not limited to dialysis, ion exchange chromatography, alumina chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, molecular sieve chromatography, or combinations thereof. In a preferred purification protocol, a measured aliquot (25 ml) of a 24 hour urine sample is dialyzed in reduced porosity dialysis tubing to remove the bulk of contaminating fluorescent solutes. The non-diffusate is then lyophilized, redissolved in 1% heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA), an ion pairing solution, and the peptides adsorbed on a Waters Sep-Pak C-18 cartridge. This cartridge is then washed with 5 ml of 1% HFBA, and then eluted with 3 ml of 50% methanol in 1% HFBA.

Another preferred method of purification consists of adsorbing a measured aliquot of urine onto an ion-exchange adsorption filter and eluting the adsorption filter with a buffered eluting solution. The eluate fractions containing peptide fragments having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links are then collected to be assayed.

Still another preferred method of purification employs molecular sieve chromatography. For example, an aliquot of urine is applied to a Bio-Gel P2 or Sephadex G-20 column and the fraction eluting in the 1000-5000 Dalton range is collected. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that a combination of the above methods may be used to purify or partially purify urine or other body fluids in order to isolate the peptide fragments having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links. The purified or partially purified peptide fragments obtained by the above procedures may be subjected to additional purification procedures, further processed or assayed directly in the partially purified state. Additional purification procedures include resolving partially purified peptide fragments employing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or microbore HPLC when increased sensitivity is desired. These peptides may then be quantitated by electrochemical titration.

A preferred electrochemical titration protocol consists of tuning the redox potential of the detecting cell of the electrochemical detector (Coulochem Model 5100A) for maximum signal with pure HP. The detector is then used to monitor the effluent from a C-18 HPLC column used to resolve the partially purified peptides.

C. Fluorometric Procedure For Quantitating Peptides

An alternative preferred method for quantitating the concentration of peptides having 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links as described herein is to measure the characteristic natural fluorescence of these peptides. For those body fluids containing few naturally occurring fluorescent materials other than the 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links, fluorometric assay may be conducted directly without further purification of the body fluid. In this case, the peptides are resolved by HPLC and the natural fluorescence of the HP and LP amino acid residues is measured at 395 nm upon excitation at 297 nm, essentially as described by Eyre, D. R., et al., Analyte. Biochem. 137:380 (1984), herein incorporated by reference.

It is preferred, in accordance with the present invention, that the fluorometric assay be conducted on urine. Urine, however, usually contains substantial amounts of naturally occurring fluorescent contaminants that must be removed prior to conducting the fluorometric assay. Accordingly, urine samples are first partially purified as described above for electrochemical detection. This partially purified urine sample can then be fluorometrically assayed as described above. Alternatively, the HP and LP cross-linked peptides in the partially purified urine samples or other body fluids can be hydrolyzed in 6M HCl at about 108° C. for approximately 24 hours as described by Eyre, et al. (1984) vida supra. This process hydrolyzes the amino acids connected to the lysine precursors of "tripeptide" HP and LP cross-links, producing the free HP and LP amino acids represented by Formulae I and II. These small "tripeptides" are then resolved by the techniques described above, preferably by HPLC, and the natural fluorescence is measured (Ex 297 nm, Ex 390 nm).

Optionally, the body fluid (preferably urine) is passed directly through a C-18 reverse phase affinity cartridge after adding acetonitrile/methanol 5 to 10% V/V. The non-retentate is adjusted to 0.05-0.10M with a cationic ion-pairing agent such as tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxide and passed through a second C-18 reverse phase cartridge. The washed retentate, containing fluorescent peptides, from this second cartridge is eluted with acetonitrile:water (or methanol:water), dried and fluorescent peptides are analyzed by reverse phase HPLC or microbore HPLC using an anionic ion-pairing agent such as 0.01M trifluoroacetic acid in the eluant.

FIG. 8A displays the elution profile resolved by reverse phase HPLC of natural fluorescence for a hydrolysate of peptide fragments from normal human urine. Measurement of the integrated area within the envelope of a given component is used to determine the concentration of that component within the sample. The ratio of HP:LP found in normal human urine and urine from patients having Paget's disease, FIG. 8B, are both approximately 4.5:1. This is slightly higher than the 4:1 ratio found in bone itself (Eyre, et al., 1984). The higher ratio found in urine indicates that a portion of the HP fraction in urine may come from sources other than bone, such as the diet, or other sources of collagen degradation, i.e., cartilage catabolism. It is for this reason that it is preferred that LP which derives only from bone be used to provide an absolute index of bone resorption. However, in the absence of excessive cartilage degradation such as in rheumatoid arthritis or in cases where bone is rapidly being absorbed, HP or a combination of HP plus LP may be used as an index of bone resorption.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, one of ordinary skill after reading the foregoing specification will be able to effect various changes, substitutions of equivalents, and alterations to the subject matter set forth herein. Hence, the invention can be practiced in ways other than those specifically described herein. It is therefore intended that the protection granted by Letters Patent hereon be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A method of determining cartilage degradation in vivo, comprising quantitating the concentration of a peptide in a body fluid sample, said peptide comprising: ##STR19## wherein ##STR20## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.
 2. A method of determining cartilage degradation according to claim 1, wherein the body fluid is urine, blood, serum, or synovial fluid.
 3. A method of determining cartilage degradation according to claim 1, wherein the quantitating step comprises contacting the body fluid sample with an immunological binding partner specific to said peptide.
 4. A method of determining cartilage degradation according to claim 3, further comprising, prior to the contacting step, substantially purifying the peptide from the body fluid.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said peptide has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: ##STR21## wherein ##STR22## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.
 6. A method of determining collagenous connective tissue degradation in vivo, comprising quantitating the concentration of a peptide in a body fluid sample, said peptide comprising: ##STR23## wherein ##STR24## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the body fluid is urine, blood, serum, or synovial fluid.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the quantitating step comprises contacting the body fluid with an immunological binding partner specific to said peptide.
 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising, prior to the contacting step, removing <3,500 molecular weight solutes by dialysis from the body fluid sample.
 10. In a method of analyzing body fluids for the presence of an analyte indicative of a physiological condition, comprising the steps of contacting the body fluid with a specific binding partner for said analyte, and detecting any binding that occurs between the analyte and the specific binding partner, the improvement comprising contacting the body fluid with at least one immunological binding partner specific for a peptide comprising: ##STR25## wherein ##STR26## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.
 11. In a method of analyzing body fluids for the presence of an analyte indicative of a physiological condition, comprising the steps of contacting the body fluid with a specific binding partner for said analyte, and detecting any binding that occurs between the analyte and the specific binding partner, the improvement comprising contacting the body fluid with at least one immunological binding partner specific for a peptide comprising: ##STR27## wherein ##STR28## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.
 12. A test kit for carrying out the method of claim 1, comprising an immunological binding partner that specifically binds to said peptide.
 13. A test kit for carrying out the method of claim 6, comprising an immunological binding partner that specifically binds to said peptide.
 14. A test kit comprising one or more immunological binding partners that specifically bind to a peptide comprising: ##STR29## wherein ##STR30## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline.
 15. A test kit comprising one or more immunological binding partners that specifically bind to a peptide comprising: ##STR31## wherein ##STR32## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline. 